"Melton has a long and celebrated history of horse breeding and racing. Draught horses were a crucial aspect of life in the early days of European settlement, and were heavily depended upon for both transport and agricultural labour. Peppercorn trees at the corner of Station and Brooklyn roads have been associated with a horse trough installed there to provide a drink to workhorses carting produce to the chaff mills and railway station south of Melton.20 Breeders, trainers and harness drivers in the area later became such an influential force in the equine industry that this came to be a defining aspect of the district’s identity and reputation.Pioneer of the Victorian horse racing industry and early Rockbank squatter William Cross Yuille was one of the earliest importers of stud racehorses in the district in the 1850s. A leading sports editor and writer, Yuille established bloodstock auctioning agency W. C. Yuille & Co. and was involved in the compilation of the first Australian Stud Book, which ensures the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia. According to early Melton chronicler Alexander Cameron, horse races were first organised in the area by Rockbank farmer William Keating. Keating owned racehorses of his own, and many brought horses from Melbourne for the events, which ‘drew large gatherings’.22 Melton Racing Club meetings were held on the Exford Estate with the permission of H. W. Staughton, who built a small wooden grandstand in 1882. Other early races and sports meetings are said to have been held in the vicinity of the current-day Melton golf course.23 An 1884 article reported that Melton’s ‘race programme … equals any put forth by country towns of far greater size’. Ernest Clarke was another important figure in the early horse racing industry in Melton. He established the Melton Stud in 1902, which bred numerous successful racehorses. Perhaps most notably The Welkin, one of the most famous stallions in Australian horse racing in the early twentieth century. The Welkin sired Gloaming, bred by Clarke at the Melton stud in 1915 and one of Australia’s greatest champion racehorses. During a long and prestigious career in both Australia and New Zealand, Gloaming achieved a triumphant 57 wins out of 67 starts and won a record amount of prize money. Ken Cox purchased the Stockwell Stud in Diggers Rest in 1957 and developed it into one of the largest and most renowned thoroughbred breeders in Australia. With its top-class facilities, international design standards and scientific methods, Stockwell became ‘the flagship of the Victorian breeding industry’.26 As well as racing studs, numerous trotting tracks were established on the flat plains around Melton in the 1960s.27 Other studs to play a leading role in the development of Melton as thoroughbred country were Cornwall Park and Merrywood at Toolern Vale, St John’s Lane Stud at Diggers Rest and Birchwood, Teppo Park and Dreelburn in the far north-east of the shire, near Sunbury. By 1985, thoroughbred horse breeding was such big business in Melton that the shire council adopted the slogan ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, which was used throughout its promotional material.29 But the slogan contained deeper meaning and was not just about Melton’s great equine industry and thoroughbred champions, the council explained: ‘“Thoroughbred Country” should be seen as a new concept of Melton, as a place where people can achieve the “Thoroughbred” ideal, excellence in all aspects of life’. The aim of the council in promoting ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, was ‘to instil in present and future residents the feeling that this is a place that is better than others. A place to be proud of’. In 1988, Melton’s champion reinsman Gavin Lang won his 176th race of the season, claiming the national harness racing record for the most wins in a single season.The following year, the first Melton Plate was held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, cementing the district’s importance in the harness racing industry. The inaugural winner was Victorys Phil, owned by local Danny Mullan. By the 1990s, Melton had earned the title of the ‘Home of Harness Racing in Victoria’. State-of-the-art, world-class harness racing facility and entertainment complex Tabcorp Park opened in Melton in 2009. In 2011, the Shire of Melton was home to over 140 registered trainers and over 1,200 horses. The municipality’s continuing leadership and influence in the industry today is a testament to the skills, talents and leadership of the local community over its history".Shire of Melton pamphlet of a map and information of the equine industry in Meltoncouncil

Used and sold by Holden and Frost in the 1800's and early 1900.sUsed Imported and sold by Holden and FrostBrass saddle that was to be used on Equine accessoriesequine civilian, military, agriculture ca1900, strap saddle

imported and sold by Holden and Frost during the late 19th century and early 20th century for the purpose of equine accessorysold by Holden and Frost as a rider accessory brass fly terrets as used in riders accessoryequine, military, recreational, c1900, fly terret

Used on horse tackle during 1800's and early 1900's by Holden and FrostUsed and sold by Holden and FrostBrass half Buckle used on Equine accessoriesequine military, civilian c1900, buckle

Used on horse tackle during 19th and early 20th century by Holden and Frost manufacturersBrass half Buckle used as equine accessory equine civilian, military, agriculture ca1900, buckle

Used in horse tackle during the 19th and early 20th Century Imported by Holden and FrostImported, used and sold by Holden and frostSteel spiked ring used on equine accessoiesequine military, civilian, agricultural ca1900, caverson ring

Used on horse tackle during 19th and 20th centuries and manufactured and sold by Holden and FrostSold by Holden and Frost for military agricultural and civilian use c1900Nickle plated steel buckle used as equine accessoryhorse equine military, agricultural, ca1900, roller buckle

used on horse accessories during 1800's and early 1900'sUsed, sold by Holden and Frost Ca 1900Brass half Buckle as used in equine accessories Ca1900equine civilian, agriculture, military c1900, half buckle

Used on horse tackle during 19th and 20th century by Holden and FrostSold by Holden and FrostBrass half buckle used on dress equine accessoriesequine military, civilian, agriculture ca 1900, buckle

Used on horse tackle in the 19th and 20th Century imported by olden and FrostUsed on Horse tackle by Holden and Frost, manufacturers.Brass half buckle as used in the manufacture of equine equipmentequine military, civilian ca1900, buckle

Used on Horse tackle 19th and early 20th century by Holden and frostBrass plated half Buckle as used on equine equipmwntBrass plateequine military, civilian, agricultural ca1900, buckle

used on horse tackle during 19th and early 20th century by Holden and FrostUsed on equine products made by Holden and Frost around the turn of the 20th centuryBrass half buckle for use on equine pieces Ca1900equine military, civilian, agricultural ca1900, buckle

Used on Horse tackle by Holden and frost circa 1900Sold by Holden and Frost"rounded" half Buckle Brass used on equine accessoriesequine military, civilian, agriculture ca1900, buckle

Used in horse tackle during 19th and 20th century by Holden and frostImported, used and sold by Holden and Frost Ca1900Brass Triangular link used in the manufacture of Equine assessoriesequine civilian, military ca1900, triangular link

Used by Holden and Frost in the construction of Horse tackle during the 1800's and early 1900'sImported used and sold by Holden and FrostD shaped ring as used in the construction of equine bits and piecesequine military, civilian, agricultural c1900, girth strap ring

Used in Horse tackle during 19th and 20th century by Holden and FrostImported and used by Holden and Frost Circa 1900Square shaped Link as used by Holden and Frost in Equine strappingequine military, civilian, agriculture ca1900, buckle

Used on horse tackle during 19th and 20th century by Holden and FrostUsed and sold by Holden and Frost Ca1900Brass half buckle used in the manufacture of Military and civilian equine piecesequine military, civilian ca1900, buckle

Imported by Holden and Frost and used on Horse tackleBrass bodied steel tongue half buckle as used on equine equipment Ca1900 equine civilian, military, agricultural ca 1900, buckle

used on Horse tackle during 1800's and early 1900's by Holden and FrostImported and utilised by Holden and Frost in their construction of equine equiopmentBrass D ring imported, sold and used by Holden and frost in the construction of pieces of equine equipmentequine agriculture, civilian, military c1900, ring

Used and Imported during 19th and 20th century in the construction of horse tackle by Holden and FrostSold by Holden and FrostRound steel ring nickel plated ring used in the construction of horse reins and other equine accessoriesequine military, agricultrural, civilian c1900, ring

Used by Holden and Frost on horse tackle during the 19th centuryNickel plated steel ring used in the construction of various equine pieces in the late 1800's and early 1900'sequine military, agricultural, civilian c1900, ring

Liquid used for the preservation of equine leather objectsImported and sold by Holden and FrostRed topped can with paper label showing instructions for useFrank Miller Harness oil Blackingliquid, preservative, blackener

Dressing as used on equine/oxen leather piecesas sold by Holden and FrostSquat red tin can with press lid with instructions printed on sideCoachline leather dressing with trade mark coach and instructionsdressing, leather, paste

Used to protect legs during equine eventsManufactured and sold by Holden and Frost circa 1900Pair of leather leggings with fastening strap and stud closingleather, leggings

Used to protect legs during equine events. Two pairs of Leather leggings were found in a box marked with a card that said belongs to William Henry Kennedy. William was born in Dimboola 1894 and died in Portland 7 April 1971. William farmed in the Wimmera region and retired to PortlandA Leather legging with fastening strap and bucklehorse riding, leg protection, safety

Used to protect legs during equine events. Two pairs of Leather leggings were found in a box marked with a card that said belongs to William Henry Kennedy. William was born in Dimboola 1894 and died in Portland 7 April 1971. William farmed in the Wimmera region and retired to PortlandA Leather legging with fastening strap and bucklehorse riding, leg protection, safety

Used in the maintenance of equine equipment and other leather productsAs imported and sold by Holden and FrostGreen painted tin with conical pourer on top. Finger holder on one side of coneSuperior Neats Foot Oilleather dressing, neats foot, oil

Used in the manufacture of Equine equipment, Imported by Holden and Frost Ca1900Used and sold by Holden and Frost Ca1900Bright finished nickle plated steel half buckleequine military, agricultural, civilian ca1900, buckle